“Target tries new, bigger strategy for Boston store” by Taryn Luna at Boston Globe. “Target is coming to the Fenway area next year with its own urban-concept store called “CityTarget,” the retailer’s first on the East Coast. But this location will actually be bigger…The CityTarget that will occupy four floors in a building under construction at the intersection of Boylston and Kilmarnock streets won’t just be bigger than the company’s other urban stores. It will be even bigger than an average full-size Target store (and) will cover a whopping 160,000 square feet.” Read more / See the location pictures

 

“Costco’s Annette Alvarez-Peters Talks Wine” by Bill Swindell at the Press Democrat. “We have 11 buyers on the alcohol beverage team. Each is responsible for wine, beer and spirits for their region. Each region consists of two to 13 states with up to 60 stores. Each buyer deals with the necessary paperwork, PowerPoints and supplier/distributor meetings to run their business, in addition to getting into Wine Country and wine shows or tastings when time permits.” Read the interview

 

“Retail prices taking a dip for the holiday season (Can ‘Frozen’ save Christmas?)” by Catherine Curan at NY Post. “Promotions are going to be larger and deeper, and affect retailers’ bottom line,” said Robin Lewis, CEO of The Robin Report, who expects flat holiday sales compared to 2013. “People just don’t have [the money].” The National Retail Federation, by contrast, expects sales to rise 4 percent.” Read more

 

“Highlights from Home Depot’s Asia Investor meeting presentation” by Clark Schultz at Seeking Alpha. “Home Depot expects to gain more efficiency from supply chain changes and forecasting improvements. FY14 guidance is reiterated: Sales growth ~4.8%; Comp store growth ~4.6%, EPS $4.54; store openings +6.” Read more  See the PowerPoint

 

“Macy’s Tries on Silicon Valley’s ‘Fail Fast’ Approach” by Clint Boulton at WSJ. “Some of this stuff isn’t going to stick and that’s okay,” Macy’s Chief Omnichannel Officer RB Harrison tells CIO Journal. Mr. Harrison worked with Macy’s CIO Larry Lewark to develop the strategy, which also includes the integration of decades-old legacy software, including point-of-sale systems, with software for processing mobile payments, beacon technology and RFID sensors.” Read more (Subscription)

 

“Will the plunge in gas prices boost holiday retail?” by Uptin Saiidi at CNBC. “A new report by Deloitte suggests lower gas prices could free up $260 per household this year in the United States. The potential savings is dramatic enough that May Epner, principal of Mary Epner Retail Analysis, predicts there will be benefactors as a result of falling gas prices. “A drop in gas prices should be great for Ross Stores, Walmart, and dollar stores.” Read more

 

“Target Continues Liquor Roll Out in MN” by Sam Black at Minn./St.Paul Bus. Journal. “Oh my god, that’s scary. It might affect me pretty hard,” said Tim, a Vintage Wine & Spiritz employee who declined to give his last name when he learned of the news Friday.” Read more

 

“Kmart is latest retailer hit by data theft” at SF Gate. “Sears Holdings says that Kmart’s information technology department detected on Thursday that its payment data systems had been breached. But it couldn’t provide the number of affected cards. However, it said that it was able to remove the malware. “ Read more

 

“Retailers’ Lines Blur on Outlet Stores” by Suzanne Kapner at WSJ. “Desperate for growth at a time when outlet stores are a rare bright spot for shopper traffic, chains are taking the once unthinkable step of putting outlets near their mainline stores in cities and suburban malls and even putting full-price stores in outlet malls.” Read more (Subscription)

 

“Retail imports expected to surge ahead of holiday push” at The City Wire. “Import volume at U.S. ports covered by Hackett & Associates’ Global Port Tracker report is expected to total 1.53 million containers this month, topping the 1.52 million monthly record set in August. Cargo volume has been well above average each month since spring as retailers have imported merchandise early in case of any disruption on the docks.” Read more

 

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